Say, “What is with God is far better
than trade or play. For God
is the Best of Providers.”
SURA 63
The Hypocrites (Al-Munafiqun)
Another short Medinan sura of 11 verses, this addresses first hypocrites (vv. 1–8), then believers (vv. 9–11), reminding the latter that “God is Aware of all that you do” (v. 11).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1When the hypocrites come to you,
they say, “We bear witness that you
are truly the messenger of God.”
God knows well that you
are His messenger—
and He bears witness
that the hypocrites are liars.
2They have made their oaths
a screen [for their misdeeds], and
they bar [people] from God’s path—
what they have done is wicked.
3That is because they believed,
then disbelieved. So a seal
has been set upon their hearts—
hence they don’t understand.
4When you see them, their looks
please you, and when they speak,
you listen to what they say.
Yet [in truth], they are like
beams of timber, propped up.
They think that every cry
is against them. But they
are the enemy, so be wary of them.
May God curse them—
how deluded they are.
5And when it is said to them,
“Come, the messenger of God
will ask forgiveness for you,”
they turn their heads aside
and turn away in their pride.
6It’s the same for them whether
you ask forgiveness for them or not—
God will not forgive them.
God does not guide
people who are disobedient.
7They are the ones who say,
“Don’t give anything to those
who are with God’s messenger—
then they will disband.”
But the treasures of the heavens
and earth belong to God, though
the hypocrites don’t understand.
8They say, “If we return to Medina
The more powerful° will expel
the weaker ones from it.” But power
belongs to God, His messenger,
and the believers,
though the hypocrites
have no knowledge [of this].
SECTION 2
9You who believe, don’t let
your wealth and your children
distract you from remembrance
of God—those who do this
will be the ones who suffer loss.
10Spend [in charity] from what
We have given you, before death
comes to any one of you,
and they should say,
“My Lord, why don’t you
grant me respite for a short term,
so that I can give in charity,
and be among the righteous?”
11But God will not grant respite
to any soul once its term becomes due.
For God is Aware of all that you do.
SURA 64
Mutual Fraud (Al-Taghabun)
Either Meccan or Medinan, its 18 verses begin with extolling God (vv. 1–4), then recall the punishment of earlier generations (vv. 5–6), before announcing the different fates of believers and disbelievers (vv. 7–10). While believers face trials and temptations (vv. 11–16), they should remain confident of God’s forgiveness—“for God is Appreciative, Forbearing—Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Almighty, the All Wise” (vv. 17–18).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1All that is in the heavens
and all that is on the earth
hymns the glory of God.
His is all dominion, and
His is all praise—
He has Power over all things.
2It is He Who created you.
Some of you are disbelievers
while others believe—
and God Sees all that you do.
3He created the heavens and earth
with true purpose, and formed you
in beautiful forms—and to Him
you shall finally return.
4He knows all that is in the heavens
and on the earth. He knows
what you conceal and reveal.
He Knows what lies hidden in hearts.
5Has word not reached you of those
who disbelieved in the past?
They tasted the evil fruit of their deeds
and theirs was a painful torment.
6For° their messengers came to them
with clear proofs, but they said,
“Shall we be guided by a mere mortal?”
and, disbelieving, they turned away.
But God does not need them, for God
is Self-Sufficient, Worthy of Praise.
7The unbelievers claim that they
will not be raised from the dead. Say,
“By my Lord, you will be raised up,
and then informed of all that you did—
this is easy for God.”
8So, believe in the One God
and His messenger, and in the Light
We have sent down.° For God
is Aware of all that you do.
9When He gathers you together
on the day of gathering—that
will be the day when you suffer
mutual fraud.
As for those who
believe in God and do good deeds,
He will absolve them
of their misdeeds,
and usher them into gardens
beneath which rivers flow,
dwelling there for eternity.
That will be the supreme triumph.
10But those who disbelieve
and deny Our Signs, shall be
cast into the fire, dwelling there
forever—a wretched destination.
SECTION 2
11No kind of calamity can strike
without God’s leave. God guides
the heart of any who believe in Him—
and God is Knower of all things.
12So obey God, and
obey His messenger;
but if you turn back,
Our messenger’s task
is only to convey
the message clearly.
13God—there is no god but He—
so let the believers trust in God.
14You who believe—some among
your wives and children may be
your enemies, so beware of them.
But if you pardon, forbear, and forgive,
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
15Your wealth and your children
are merely a test for you.
But the greatest reward is with God.
16So be mindful of God—
as much as you are able.
Hear, and obey, and spend
in charity—for your own sake.
Those who are saved from
their own greed are the ones
who will prosper.
17If you lend to God a beautiful loan°
He will multiply it for you,
and forgive you, for God is
Appreciative, Forbearing—
18Knower of the unseen
and the seen,
the Almighty, the All Wise.
SURA 65
Divorce (Al-Talaq)
A Medinan sura of 12 verses, this begins with a commentary on divorce laws (vv. 1–7) and then warns of punishment for disbelievers as well as blessing for believers (vv. 8–12), concluding as do many suras, with invoking Divine Names: “God has Power over all things, and that His Knowledge encompasses all things (v. 12).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Prophet, when any of you
divorces women, do so when
their waiting period starts,°
and keep count of the period,
remaining mindful of God,
your Lord. Don’t expel them
from their homes, and they
themselves should not leave
unless they are guilty
of some clear indecency.
These are the limits set by God,
and those who transgress
those limits wrong themselves.
You do not know if God, after this,
will bring something else to pass.
2Then when their term of waiting
expires—either keep them or
part with them—in a kindly manner,
and call two just men among you
as witnesses, to give upright
testimony for the sake of God.
This is counsel for those who
believe in God and the last day.
God will find a way out for those
who are mindful of Him.
3And He provides for them
from sources they could not imagine.
God is sufficient for those
who place their trust in Him.
He brings about what He decrees
and sets a measure for all things.
4If you are in doubt, the waiting
period will be three months for
those women past menstruation
and those not yet menstruating.
For those who are pregnant,
the waiting period shall expire
when they deliver.
God will make things easy
for those who are mindful of Him.
5This is the command of God,
which He has revealed to you.
He will absolve of their bad deeds
those who are mindful of Him
and make great their reward.
6Let the women you are to divorce
live in your homes, as you can afford;
don’t harm them, to cause distress.
And if they are pregnant,
maintain them until they deliver.
If they suckle your offspring,
compensate them. Consult together
in a kindly manner,
but if you find this too arduous,
let another woman suckle the child.
7Let affluent people spend
according to their means,
and let those of spare means
spend from what God has given them.
God puts no burden on any soul
beyond the means He has given it—
and after hardship He brings relief.°
SECTION 2
8How many towns did We bring
to stern account, which rebelled against
the commandment of their Lord
and His messengers—subjecting them
to Our severe torment?
9So they tasted the evil fruit
of their deeds—and the result
of their deeds was utter ruin.
10God has prepared for them
a severe torment—so be mindful
of God, you people who understand,
who believe—God has sent down
a message to you,
11a messenger, who recites to you
clear verses from God, to lead those
who believe and do good deeds
from darkness into light.
Those who believe in God
and do good deeds shall be
urged into gardens, beneath which
rivers flow, to dwell there forever—
what an excellent provision
God has in store for them.
12It is God Who created seven
heavens and their like in earths.°
His command descends through them
to let you know that God
has Power over all things,
and that His knowing
encompasses all things.
SURA 66
Prohibition (Al-Tahrim)
This Medinan sura of 12 verses opens with directives about Muhammad’s wives (vv. 1–5). It then addresses general guidelines for believers, disbelievers, and the Prophet (vv. 6–9), closing with examples from prior times (Noah’s wife, Lot’s wife, Pharaoh’s wife, and Mary, the daughter of ʿImran; vv. 10–12).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Prophet, why do you prohibit
what God has made lawful for you,
seeking to please your wives!
Yet God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.°
2God has ordained that you
might be freed from such oaths,
for God is your Protector,
and He is All Knowing, All Wise.
3When the Prophet confided
something to one of his wives,
and she divulged it [to another wife],
God made this known to him,
and he confirmed part of it,
without disclosing the rest.
When he told her about it,
she asked, “Who informed you
about this?” He replied,
“I was informed by the One
Who is All Knowing, All Aware.”
4If your wives both turn
to God in repentance [it will
be better]—for your hearts
have deviated; so if you support
each other against the Prophet,°
[know that] God is his Protector—
along with Gabriel
and the righteous believers;
the angels too will support him.
5It may be that if he divorced you,
God would give him in exchange
wives better than you—who submit
to God, who believe, are devout,
repentant, worshipping, and who fast°—
both previously wed and virgins.
6You who believe, save yourselves
and your families from a fire
whose fuel is humans and stones,
over which angels stand guard
who are stern and severe, never
disobeying the commands of God,
who do as they are commanded.
7[They will say,] “Unbelievers,
don’t make excuses this day—
you are merely being requited
for all that you did.”
SECTION 2
8You who believe, turn to God
with sincere repentance. Perhaps
God will erase your bad deeds,
and usher you into gardens,
with flowing rivers beneath.
On that day, God will not
disgrace the Prophet and those
who believed with him.
Their light will precede them,
on their right, and they shall say,
“Our Lord, perfect our light,
and forgive us, for
